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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: maryjohnson008@live.com
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:06:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: MAY THE GOOD LORD BE WITH YOU


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: blessedmaryjohnson4@ymail.com



- Greetings In The Name Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.I am mother Mary Johnson, a widow to late Richard Johnson. I am 60 yrs old, I am now a new christian convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast, from all indication my condition is really deteriorating and it's quit obvious that I won't live more than 2 months, According to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage . My late husband killed during the U.S raid against terrorism in Afghanistan, and during the period of our marriage we had a 23 yrs old son who died in an auto crash three years ago.My late husband was very wealthy and after his death i inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has advice me that I may not live for more than 2 months, so i now decided to devide the part of this wealth, to contribute to the development of the chruch in africa,America,Asia and also in europe.I prayed over it before sending you this e-mail that is if i can trust you That God almihgt should derect me to who i can trust that is willing to carry out my last wish on earth. I am willing to donate the sum of nine million United State Dollars( USD$9,000,000) to the less privileged. Please I want you to note that this fund is lying in a Bank and upon my instruction, my attorney who presently is in Asia distributing relief materials to the victims of the bombblast in Hong Kong, will file in an application for the transfer of the money in your name. Lastly, I honestly pray that this money when transfered will be used for the said purpose, because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition without christ is vanity. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus the love of God and the fellowship of God be with you and your family. I await your urgent reply Yours In Christ.Mother Mary Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam